Olubadan Calls for Nationwide Community Policing to Cut Crime

TL;DR: The Olubadan of Ibadanland urges Nigeria to adopt community policing, saying it could reduce crime to the barest minimum.

Context During a luncheon at the Olubadan Palace, the monarch addressed participants of the Executive Intelligence Management Course (EIMC) 19, 2026, organized by the Institute for Security Studies in Abuja. The event gathered traditional rulers from Ibadanland and representatives from the Oyo State Police, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and the regional security outfit Amotekun.

Key Facts - The Olubadan, His Imperial Majesty Oba Rasidi Ladoja, declared that community policing would “help in no small measure to eradicate crimes or at least reduce it to the barest minimum” nationwide. - The luncheon honored the EIMC participants, who are on a week‑long study tour of Oyo State, and provided a platform for them to share observations. - Attendees included senior traditional title‑holders such as the Balogun, Otun Balogun, Osi Olubadan, and Ekerin Balogun, as well as prominent community leaders and the President‑General of the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes. - Law‑enforcement representatives from the state police, NSCDC, and Amotekun were present, underscoring official interest in the community‑policing model.

What It Means The Olubadan’s appeal aligns with a broader push for localized security initiatives that involve citizens directly in crime prevention. By integrating traditional authority structures with formal police forces, the model aims to improve intelligence flow, increase public trust, and deter criminal activity at the neighborhood level. If adopted, the approach could reshape Nigeria’s security architecture, shifting some responsibility from centralized agencies to community‑based networks.

Looking Ahead Watch for policy proposals from the Oyo State government and the federal Ministry of Interior that may formalize community policing frameworks, and monitor pilot projects in Ibadan and surrounding districts.